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The Seattle Seawolves head back to the East Coast with a chance for redemption against Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby’s only Sunday match this week. Last season’s clash between the two saw the expansion side upsetting the two-time champions at Cardinal Stadium.
Segra Field in Leesburg is the venue this time. It’s an arduous trip for Seattle who will have to play at 9am Pacific time, a situation similar to their one-sided defeat to Toronto in Atlanta last month. On the plus they are coming off a victory at home against San Diego so will have some wind at their tails.
Seattle welcome back two big men to the pack this week. FP Pelser starts alongside Samu Manoa in the engine room with both Conor McGill and Ben Landry in reserve. Brad Tucker returns from an Achilles problem on the blindside flank and there are two new signings on the bench in prop Matt Duncan and back row Naulia Dawai.
Only one chance is made in the backs. It’s a straight swap on the wing as Canada Sevens cap Karsten Leitner is set to play his first game in two years having fully recovered from a long-term Achilles injury. Devereaux Ferris and Seta Tuilevuka are the only backs available as replacements.
Old Glory saw a potential road win against Utah disappear on the final play in Herriman. Like Seattle they sit at the bottom of their conference, three points behind the Arrows, but will be happy to play at home with an extra day’s rest. The bad news is they will do so without co-captain Mungo Mason who suffered a shoulder injury against the Warriors.
Callum Gibbins moves into the openside flanker role this week and assumes the co-captaincy, with Canadian international Luke Campbell starting on the blindside. Steven Longwell comes back into the No3 shirt after being rested for the first half against Utah.
There is just one personnel change in the backs. Thomas Morani has departed the team for San Diego with Doug Fraser moving into the midfield. Mike Dabulas comes off the bench to start on the right wing, with D’Montae Noble filling the vacant No23 shirt.
The return of Tucker in particular is a big boost to the Seawolves, while the loss of Mason for Old Glory is significant. On paper there is little to choose between the two sides but the travel and kickoff time are significant obstacles that have proven difficult for Seattle already this season. Take DC in a close match as a result.
Kickoff is set for noon local time, 9am Pacific. CBS Sports Network will broadcast in Canada and the USA, with The Rugby Network streaming for those located abroad.
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jamie Dever, 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai, 3 Steven Longwell, 4 Api Naikatini, 5 Stan South, 6 Luke Campbell, 7 Callum Gibbins (co-capt.), 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Jason Robertson, 11 Renata Roberts-Te Nana, 12 Thretton Palamo (co-capt.), 13 Doug Fraser, 14 Mike Dabulas, 15 Dylan Taikato-Simpson
Replacements: 16 Max Lum, 17 Jack Iscaro, 18 Dante Lopresti, 19 Casey Renaud, 20 Josh Brown, 21 Danny Thomas, 22 Simi Moala, 23 D’Montae Noble
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa, 2 James Malcolm, 3 Tim Metcher, 4 FP Pelser, 5 Samu Manoa, 6 Brad Tucker, 7 Andrew Durutalo, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Ross Neal, 12 Kieran Joyce, 13 Shalom Suniula, 14 Karsten Leitner, 15 Mat Turner
Replacements: 16 Mike Shepherd, 17 Matt Duncan, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 Ben Landry, 20 Conor McGill 21 Naulia Dawai, 22 Seta Tuilevuka, 23 Devereaux Ferris
Date: Saturday, May 15
Venue: Segra Field, Leesburg
Kickoff: 12:00 local (09:00 Pacific)
Referee:
Assistants:
Broadcasts: CBS Sports Network, The Rugby Network
Historical Results
2020-02-16 – Old Glory DC 28, Seattle Seawolves 22 (Cardinal Stadium)
